Reinforced corner interlock on tray

ABSTRACT

A collapsible box is formed of a single cardboard sheet and includes a rectangular bottom panel, side panels extending from opposite sides of the bottom panel, and end panels extending from opposite ends of the bottom panel. Each end panel has corner flaps, each of which includes a plurality of panels bent with respect to each other to form a triangular reinforcement of a corner formed by respective side and end panels. Each end panel has extending therefrom a top panel which extends horizontally over tops of respective reinforcements. End flaps extend from ends of each top panel and extend downwardly therefrom. Each side panel has formed therein upwardly facing cut-outs, and each end flap has extending downwardly therefrom an extension which fits into a respective cut-out. Each top panel has formed therein slits, and each corner flap has extending from one of the panels thereof a tongue which fits into a respective slit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a collapsible box formed of a singlecardboard sheet including integral elements enabling direct connectionbetween end and side panels of the box, such elements being formedduring a stamping operation by which the cardboard sheet is formed.

In the container industry, and more specifically in that portion of suchindustry relating to the production of cardboard boxes for packingperishable products such as fruit and vegetables, the containers must besufficiently strong and nondeformable to permit transportation thereofwithout damage to the contents.

During the final assembly operation of known collapsible boxes,connections are formed between side and end panels of the box. Suchoperation however requires special tools and equipment and thereforeincreases manufacturing costs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to provide animproved collapsible box formed of a single cardboard sheet whereby itis possible to overcome the above prior art disadvantages and wherebyconnections between side and end panels of the box are simplified.

This object is achieved in accordance with the present invention by theprovision of a collapsible box formed of a single cardboard sheet, thebox including a rectangular bottom panel, side panels extending fromopposite sides of the bottom panel and bent to extend verticallytherefrom along respective parallel first fold lines, and end panelsextending from opposite ends of the bottom panel and bent to extendvertically therefrom along respective parallel second fold linesextending transverse to the first fold lines. Corner flaps extend fromends of each end panel and are bent with respect thereto alongrespective vertical third fold lines. Each corner flap includes pluralpanels bent with respect to each other along respective vertical fourthfold lines extending parallel to the respective third fold line, thusforming a triangular reinforcement of a corner formed by the juncture ofends of respective side and end panels. Each end panel has extendingtherefrom a top panel bent with respect thereto to extend horizontallytherefrom over tops of respective reinforcements along respective fifthfold lines extending parallel to the second fold lines. End flaps extendfrom ends of each top panel and are bent with respect thereto to extenddownwardly therefrom along respective sixth fold lines extendingtransverse to the fifth fold lines. Each side panel has in end portionsthereof upwardly facing cut-outs, and each end flap has extendingdownwardly therefrom an extension of a shape complementary to andfitting within a respective cut-out. Each corner flap has formed in thepanel thereof adjacent the respective end panel a first slit, such thateach extension partially fits into a respective first slit withpressure. Each top panel has formed in end portions thereof secondslits, and each corner flap has extending from one of the panels thereofa tongue, each tongue fitting within a respective second slit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following description, taken with the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partial plan view of an unfolded and stamped cardboard sheetfrom which the box of the present invention is formed; and

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of one corner of the box of thepresent invention assembled from the portion of the sheet shown in FIG.1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The drawings illustrate elements at one corner of a box illustrating thenovel features of the present invention. It is to be understood howeverthat similar elements are provided to form the other three corners ofthe box.

The box of the present invention is formed of a single cardboard sheetand includes a rectangular bottom panel 1, side panels 2 extending fromopposite sides of bottom panel 1 and bent to extend vertically therefromalong respective parallel first fold lines 2a, and end panels 3extending from opposite ends of bottom panel 1 and bent to extendvertically therefrom along respective parallel second fold lines 3aextending transverse to first fold lines 2a. Corner flaps 4 extend fromends of each end panel 3 and are bent with respect thereto alongrespective vertical third fold lines 4a. Each corner flap 4 includesplural panels 4' bent with respect to each other along respectivevertical fourth fold lines 4'a extending parallel to the respectivethird fold line 4a, thus forming a triangular reinforcement of thecorner formed by respective side panels 2 and end panels 3. Thistriangular reinforcement is shown particularly by the dashed lines inFIG. 2.

Each end panel 3 has extending therefrom a top panel 6 bent with respectthereto to extend horizontally therefrom over tops of respective of thereinforcements along respective fifth fold lines 6a extending parallelto second fold lines 3a. End flaps 5 extend from ends of each top panel6 and are bent with respect thereto to extend downwardly therefrom (asshown particularly in FIG. 2) along respective sixth fold lines 5aextending transverse to fifth fold lines 6a.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided structureintegral with the single sheet of cardboard material to achievesatisfactory connection of the various elements, particularly the sideand end panels, to achieve a sturdy box.

Thus, each side panel 2 has in end portions thereof upwardly facingcut-outs 8, preferably of a generally circular configuration. Similarly,each end flap 5 has extending downwardly therefrom an extension 7 of ashape complementary to and fitting within a respective cut-out 8.Furthermore, each corner flap 4 has formed in the panel 4' thereof whichis adjacent the respective end panel 3 a first slit 10, and eachextension may partially fit into respective first slit 10 by pressure.In the illustrated arrangement, slit 10 is generally X-shaped, butsimilarly could be T-shaped.

Furthermore, each top panel 6 has formed in end portions thereof secondslits 11, and each corner flap 4 has extending from one of the panels 4'thereof a tongue 12 which fits into a respective second slit 11. In theillustrated arrangement, the middle panel 4' includes the tongue 12, andaccordingly the slit 11 extends obliquely to fifth and sixth fold lines6a, 5a, as particularly shown in FIG. 1.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated withrespect to a preferred embodiment thereof, various changes andmodifications may be made to the specifically described and illustratedarrangements without departing from the scope of the present invention.

I claim:
 1. A collapsible box formed of a single cardboard sheet, saidbox comprising:a rectangular bottom panel; side panels extending fromopposite sides of said bottom panel and bent to extend verticallytherefrom along respective parallel first fold lines; end panelsextending from opposite ends of said bottom panel and bent to extendvertically therefrom along respective parallel second fold linesextending transverse to said first fold lines; corner flaps extendingfrom ends of each said end panel and bent with respect thereto alongrespective vertical third fold lines; each said corner flap comprisingplural panels bent with respect to each other along respective verticalfourth fold lines extending parallel to the respective third fold line,thus forming a triangular reinforcement of a corner formed by respectivesaid side and end panels, one of said panels of each said corner flapbeing disposed adjacent the respective said end panel; each said endpanel having extending therefrom a top panel bent with respect theretoto extend horizontally therefrom over tops of respective saidreinforcements along respective fifth fold lines extending parallel tosaid second fold lines; end flaps extending from ends of each said toppanel and bent with respect thereto to extend downwardly therefrom alongrespective sixth fold lines extending transverse to said fifth foldlines; each said side panel having in end portions thereof upwardlyfacing cut-outs; each said end flap having extending downwardlytherefrom an extension of a shape complementary to and fitting within arespective said cut-out; each said corner flap having formed in said onepanel a first slit, each said extension partially fitting into arespective said first slit; each said top panel having formed in endportions thereof second slits; and each said corner flap havingextending from one of said panels thereof a tongue, each said tonguefitting into a respective said second slit.
 2. A box as claimed in claim1, wherein each said first slit is X-shaped.
 3. A box as claimed inclaim 1, wherein each said second slit extends obliquely with respect tosaid fifth and sixth fold lines.
 4. A box as claimed in claim 1, whereineach said cut-out and extension is of a generally circularconfiguration.